February 25, 2018 by Lars Lisell
“It depends” is an engineer’s favorite response to just about every question. But
“it depends” is an appropriate response when evaluating whether installing an energy
storage system is a good idea. Energy storage can be confusing. The technology adds
value to electrical systems by charging when there is excess energy on the system,
storing the power until it is required, then discharging when the energy system requires
additional energy. Unlike traditional generators that turn fuel into electricity,
an energy storage system is used to move energy around. A few common applications
for energy storage include moving energy use from a period of high consumption to a period of low consumption, storing renewable generation to be used at night, or storing grid power to be used
during periods of grid outage. For an energy storage system to make economic sense,
the value of providing this service to a facility or the electrical system must exceed
the cost of the energy storage system. How can a consumer determine if an energy
storage system makes sense for a facility? The answer often lies in the utility bill.[1]
For the rest of the story visit: https://www.nrel.gov/technical-assistance/blog/posts/when-does-energy-storage-make-sense-it-depends.html?platform=hootsuite